Introduction
How can we help to save our planet from global warming? In this project, students learn about the effects of global warming and ways to reduce its effects on our planet. Through email exchanges, students collaborate on ways kids around the globe can make a difference.
Task
Essential Questions
What is global warming?
How do human activities affect global warming?
How does global warming impact the planet?
Why are there two camps of thought on global warming (humans speeding it up vs. global warming as a natural process)?
How can people slow the rate of global warming?
Supporting Questions
What is global warming? What is the greenhouse effect? What are the interdependencies of plants and animals in habitats? What is climate change? How do we distinguish between natural climate change and human-caused climate change? What are the effects of global warming? How does global warming affect your lives? What are individuals doing to reduce global warming?
Objectives
Students will be able to identify the elements of global warming.
Students will be able to discuss the effects of global warming orally and in writing.
Students will be able to create presentations that explain how people can reduce global warming. Presentations will include calls to action.
Process
Students will create presentations that demonstrate an understanding of global warming and include specific descriptions of one effect and calls to action to reduce that effect.
Evaluation
Conclusion
Materials/Handouts
Culminating Activity Rubric Email Rubric
Relevant websites National Geographic, global warming interactive
Related Resources
National Geographic: Global Warming
USGCRP: report summarizing the science and impact of climate change on the US
National Geographic: Global Warming 101 Video
National Geographic: Extreme Weather
Check the vital signs of our planet! What's Up With the Weather?-This NOVA and FRONTLINE special report on global warming provides graphs, a helpful FAQ, an interactive activity that helps students recognize sources of daily energy consumption and determine their "diet" of carbon, perspectives for and against global warming, and more.
4th-6th Grade Climate Change Guide-This site gives a lot of basic information about climate change. It can be translated into French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Arabic.
US Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Kids Site- This online EPA resource explains the basics of climate and climate change, possible impacts of global warming, and actions individuals can take to slow global warming.
5th-8th Grade Kids Crossing: Living in the Greenhouse!- This interactive site explains basic information about climate and how and why our climate is changing.
8th-12th Grade United Nations Environment Programme: Climate Change Center for Climate and Energy Solutions Global Climate Change Links- This is a list of other websites on global warming, climate and weather. Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences: Global Warming Facts and Our Future-This interactive site explains the Greenhouse Effect, the carbon cycle, the causes of climate change, the impact of climate change, and more.
Global Climate Change Research Explorer-This is a very sophisticated site on global climate change where the information is broken down by atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere and global effects.
Articles Extreme Weather – A Glimpse of Things to Come Hurricanes, Heat Waves and Quakes, Oh My! Is Global Warming To Blame? Why Is Everyone Worried About Global Warming? The Land that Wind Built In Search of Miracles Driving Without Gas Finn’s Just Right World The Big Fix
Academic Vocabulary
global warming, climate zones, greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, climate change, carbon dioxide, methane, deforestation, recycling, wind power, environment
Extended Learning
1. Studying effects of global warming on climate change 2. Role Play-Become advisers to various heads of states regarding global warming 3. Create your own global warming comic strip 4. Discuss a radio broadcast on global warming 5. Complete another ePals National Geographic project. Topics include habitats, water, natural disasters, holidays and more. 6. Study in detail one of the actions that people are taking to reduce global warming: alternative fuels, recycling, etc. 7. Watch the film An Inconvenient Truth. Gather articles about the film and have students do their own research and reach their own conclusions about the content. 8. Start a Global Warming Board: Ask students to be on the lookout for magazine or newspaper articles on global warming and bring them in to the class to discuss. 9. Participate in a volunteer project related to the environment.
Credits
Global Warming Email Exchange Calendar:
Before starting the email exchange, engage students, activate prior knowledge and build context. Have them learn a little about global warming and the vocabulary necessary to discuss the topic.
Email #1: Introductions/Sharing Current Thoughts and Understandings
1. Students introduce themselves. 2. Students ask their ePals questions about themselves. 3. Students share their current thoughts and understandings about global warming. 4. Students discuss how concern about global warming has affected them.
Email #2: Share Research
1. Students respond to their ePals’ comments and questions. 2. Students ask their ePals questions and make comments about their ePals’ prior emails. 3. Students continue the dialogue about global warming by discussing its causes. 4. Students share information and ask for confirmation about research on the types of global warming in their ePals' country and its causes and effects.
Email #3: How do we know global warming is really happening? What are the effects of global warming?
1. Students respond to their ePals’ comments and questions. 2. Students ask their ePals questions and make comments about their ePals’ prior emails. 3. Students continue the dialogue with their ePals, focusing on their studies of the effects of global warming. 4. Students share information and ask for confirmation about research on the types of global warming in their ePals’ country and its causes and effects.
Email #4: What can we do to reduce global warming?
1. Students respond to their ePals’ comments and questions. 2. Students ask their ePals questions and make comments about their ePals’ prior emails.
3. Students share ways they have found to reduce the effects of global warming on the environment.
4. Students share information and ask for confirmation about research on global warming initiatives in their ePals’ countries.
Email #5: Culminating Activity
1. Students respond to their ePals’ comments and questions. 2. Students share advocacy presentations that demonstrate understanding of global warming and include specific descriptions of one effect of global warming and calls to action to reduce that effect.
Email #6: Students will send a concluding email to their ePals answering the following question: How do you intend to use your new knowledge and understanding to change how you interact with the environment?